Rediscovering Ying Qu and His Poetic Relationship to Tao Qian (clik ...

Ying Qu and His Poetic Relationship to Tao Qian 53
pedias; three of these letters can be read as literary precedents to Tao
Qian’s writings.
A poignant letter, “Yu congdi Junmiao Junzhou shu” 與 從 弟 君 苗
君 冑 書 (Letter to my cousins Junmiao and Junzhou), illustrates Ying
Qu’s strong stylistic resemblance to Tao Qian’s pastoral poetry. Writing
the letter toward the end of his life, Ying Qu recalls a recent excursion
to Mang Mountain with his younger cousins, describes his quiet
life back in the city and his desire to retire, and then goes on to warn
his relatives of the perils of a life in service, while implicitly expressing
his own disappointment at not having been able to serve. In conclusion
he projects into the future, when he would be able to retire, and to
“follow the old man, raising chickens and planting corn, / studying the
classics, / and to establish a name for himself [Ying Qu].”59
The descriptive language and the tone in this letter are reminiscent
of some of Tao Qian’s best-known works.60 In the opening section cited
below, Ying Qu recalls their recent travels together:
A short while back we traveled north together, I was infinitely exhilarated!
We ascended the Mang Mountain and crossed the Yellow River—so expansive
that it was as if our eyes had been opened [for the first time]. The Wind
Deity swept the road, and the Master of Rain drizzled the paths. Pulling
in the reins, we rode leisurely on this clean and uncluttered path, gazing at
the surrounding mountainous wilderness. On arrival, we poured the spring
wine. One step after another, we strolled beneath the thatched huts; the
cool [of the thatched huts] surpasses that of grand mansions. Tiny [though]
the inch-length (cun 寸 ) [scrap] of dried meat may be, their flavors far surpass
an entire feast table. We sailed freely on the pond, and recited poetry
beneath the lush willows. We gathered fragrant spring flowers to enhance
our girdle adornments, and broke off branches from the ruo [Pollia japonica]
tree to shade ourselves from the sun. With corded arrow, we downed
birds flying high in the clouds, and our bait lured forth fish from the pool’s
59
Wenxuan, 42.15b–17a; also in Quan Sanguo wen, 30.2a–3a, in Yan Kejun, 2:1218–19. Lu
Kanru argues that this piece was written late in Ying Qu’s life, at the age of sixty-one sui,
Lu Kanru, 1:559. The quotation is from Zizhang’s words in the Analects; “the old man with
a staff ” refers to the recluse from whom Zilu sought help to look for Confucius. During
his search, Zilu encountered an old man weeding his field. The man invited Zilu home for
a meal of fresh poultry and millet from the field. His existence is an allusion to that of the
recluse’s. Lunyu zhengyi, 21.7b.
60
For instance, Lu Qinli, 2:974–75; 983; 985–88; 991–92; 1010.